Computer to TV question

[r***@optonline.net]

I have a Sony Bravia, whihch is not a smart TV, that is, no durect access to
Facebook, Netflix, etc. I do have a Sony Blu-ray player which has that kind of
access and also a Roku 3. Both the Roju 3 and the Blu-ray player are hard wired
to my router. The computer, a desktop is also hard wired to the router. I'm not
big on wireless.

My question is this. Is there a way, given the hardware I have, or is there
another component I can buy, so that I can send media I have stored on my
computer to the TV? Such as picture albums or videos? I realize I could burn the
stuff to DVD's and use the disk player, or upload to Facebook and watch there
but I don't necessarily want the stuff made public. It's only old 30 year old
movies which I had digitized to disks, which I have stored away after copying
them to my computer. I'm just looking for a more direct, simple way. I believe I
could also run a cable from my computer to an input on the TV but I don't want
to run another cable plus, from another room away, I don't think I could use my
keyboard and/or mouse. Kind of off the all question but I've been wondering
about it. Thanks.

[Les Cargill]

Post by r***@optonline.net
I have a Sony Bravia, whihch is not a smart TV, that is, no durect access to
Facebook, Netflix, etc. I do have a Sony Blu-ray player which has that kind of
access and also a Roku 3. Both the Roju 3 and the Blu-ray player are hard wired
to my router. The computer, a desktop is also hard wired to the router. I'm not
big on wireless.
My question is this. Is there a way, given the hardware I have, or is there
another component I can buy, so that I can send media I have stored on my
computer to the TV? Such as picture albums or videos? I realize I could burn the
stuff to DVD's and use the disk player, or upload to Facebook and watch there
but I don't necessarily want the stuff made public. It's only old 30 year old
movies which I had digitized to disks, which I have stored away after copying
them to my computer. I'm just looking for a more direct, simple way. I believe I
could also run a cable from my computer to an input on the TV but I don't want
to run another cable plus, from another room away, I don't think I could use my
keyboard and/or mouse. Kind of off the all question but I've been wondering
about it. Thanks.

Yeah, some permutation of DLNA or Windows Media Server will work. Check
the capabilities of the BluRay player. Many BluRay players will also
accommodate a FAT32 formatted USB drive - ether a spinning one or FLASH.

I am not sure what happens if you have plain old XP ( sans extensions),
but Win7 Home Premium pretty much has all this.

--
Les Cargill

[r***@optonline.net]

Post by Les Cargill

Post by r***@optonline.net
I have a Sony Bravia, whihch is not a smart TV, that is, no durect access to
Facebook, Netflix, etc. I do have a Sony Blu-ray player which has that kind of
access and also a Roku 3. Both the Roju 3 and the Blu-ray player are hard wired
to my router. The computer, a desktop is also hard wired to the router. I'm not
big on wireless.
My question is this. Is there a way, given the hardware I have, or is there
another component I can buy, so that I can send media I have stored on my
computer to the TV? Such as picture albums or videos? I realize I could burn the
stuff to DVD's and use the disk player, or upload to Facebook and watch there
but I don't necessarily want the stuff made public. It's only old 30 year old
movies which I had digitized to disks, which I have stored away after copying
them to my computer. I'm just looking for a more direct, simple way. I believe I
could also run a cable from my computer to an input on the TV but I don't want
to run another cable plus, from another room away, I don't think I could use my
keyboard and/or mouse. Kind of off the all question but I've been wondering
about it. Thanks.

Yeah, some permutation of DLNA or Windows Media Server will work. Check
the capabilities of the BluRay player. Many BluRay players will also
accommodate a FAT32 formatted USB drive - ether a spinning one or FLASH.
I am not sure what happens if you have plain old XP ( sans extensions),
but Win7 Home Premium pretty much has all this.

Thanks, and sorry I didn't mention my O/S. I'm running Windows 7 Professional,
64bit.

The Roku actually has a USB plug, and I currently have a mini USB flash drive
plugged into it with about 250 .mp3 files. It also plays video and photos. But
again, I'm trying to shortcut having to load a flash drive to plug into Roku and
just have some sort of connection through my router. I'm just experimenting in
my head. Always thinking of some new project.

[Les Cargill]

Post by r***@optonline.net

Post by Les Cargill

Post by r***@optonline.net
I have a Sony Bravia, whihch is not a smart TV, that is, no durect access to
Facebook, Netflix, etc. I do have a Sony Blu-ray player which has that kind of
access and also a Roku 3. Both the Roju 3 and the Blu-ray player are hard wired
to my router. The computer, a desktop is also hard wired to the router. I'm not
big on wireless.
My question is this. Is there a way, given the hardware I have, or is there
another component I can buy, so that I can send media I have stored on my
computer to the TV? Such as picture albums or videos? I realize I could burn the
stuff to DVD's and use the disk player, or upload to Facebook and watch there
but I don't necessarily want the stuff made public. It's only old 30 year old
movies which I had digitized to disks, which I have stored away after copying
them to my computer. I'm just looking for a more direct, simple way. I believe I
could also run a cable from my computer to an input on the TV but I don't want
to run another cable plus, from another room away, I don't think I could use my
keyboard and/or mouse. Kind of off the all question but I've been wondering
about it. Thanks.

Yeah, some permutation of DLNA or Windows Media Server will work. Check
the capabilities of the BluRay player. Many BluRay players will also
accommodate a FAT32 formatted USB drive - ether a spinning one or FLASH.
I am not sure what happens if you have plain old XP ( sans extensions),
but Win7 Home Premium pretty much has all this.

Thanks, and sorry I didn't mention my O/S. I'm running Windows 7 Professional,
64bit.

No biggie - I just haven't tried it against XP ( with a BluRay player ).

Post by r***@optonline.net
The Roku actually has a USB plug, and I currently have a mini USB flash drive
plugged into it with about 250 .mp3 files. It also plays video and photos. But
again, I'm trying to shortcut having to load a flash drive to plug into Roku and
just have some sort of connection through my router. I'm just experimenting in
my head. Always thinking of some new project.

Here's one possible solution:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/256058/stream_media_from_your_pc_to_your_roku_box.html


Good hunting.

--
Les Cargill

[r***@optonline.net]

Post by Les Cargill

Post by r***@optonline.net

Post by Les Cargill

Post by r***@optonline.net
I have a Sony Bravia, whihch is not a smart TV, that is, no durect access to
Facebook, Netflix, etc. I do have a Sony Blu-ray player which has that kind of
access and also a Roku 3. Both the Roju 3 and the Blu-ray player are hard wired
to my router. The computer, a desktop is also hard wired to the router. I'm not
big on wireless.
My question is this. Is there a way, given the hardware I have, or is there
another component I can buy, so that I can send media I have stored on my
computer to the TV? Such as picture albums or videos? I realize I could burn the
stuff to DVD's and use the disk player, or upload to Facebook and watch there
but I don't necessarily want the stuff made public. It's only old 30 year old
movies which I had digitized to disks, which I have stored away after copying
them to my computer. I'm just looking for a more direct, simple way. I believe I
could also run a cable from my computer to an input on the TV but I don't want
to run another cable plus, from another room away, I don't think I could use my
keyboard and/or mouse. Kind of off the all question but I've been wondering
about it. Thanks.

Yeah, some permutation of DLNA or Windows Media Server will work. Check
the capabilities of the BluRay player. Many BluRay players will also
accommodate a FAT32 formatted USB drive - ether a spinning one or FLASH.
I am not sure what happens if you have plain old XP ( sans extensions),
but Win7 Home Premium pretty much has all this.

Thanks, and sorry I didn't mention my O/S. I'm running Windows 7 Professional,
64bit.

No biggie - I just haven't tried it against XP ( with a BluRay player ).

Post by r***@optonline.net
The Roku actually has a USB plug, and I currently have a mini USB flash drive
plugged into it with about 250 .mp3 files. It also plays video and photos. But
again, I'm trying to shortcut having to load a flash drive to plug into Roku and
just have some sort of connection through my router. I'm just experimenting in
my head. Always thinking of some new project.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/256058/stream_media_from_your_pc_to_your_roku_box.html
Good hunting.

Thanks. That looks pretty interesting. I downloaded and installed the software.
I have to add Plex to my Roku channels then see how it works. Thanks for the
link. Here's hoping.

[Elmo P. Shagnasty]

Post by r***@optonline.net
My question is this. Is there a way, given the hardware I have, or is there
another component I can buy, so that I can send media I have stored on my
computer to the TV?

You want something that can use DLNA to play content to your TV, and you
want to run DLNA server software (easy) on your computer.

[Bill Gill]

Post by Elmo P. Shagnasty

Post by r***@optonline.net
My question is this. Is there a way, given the hardware I have, or is there
another component I can buy, so that I can send media I have stored on my
computer to the TV?

You want something that can use DLNA to play content to your TV, and you
want to run DLNA server software (easy) on your computer.

This morning I saw something in the paper about the new Google
Chromecast. It is a small device that plugs into an HDMI port on
your computer. It acts as a link between your computer or mobile
device and your TV. I don't have all the details, it was a
newspaper story. Also it only costs about $35. You might want to
look into that. It sounds interesting to me.

Bill

[Metspitzer]

Post by r***@optonline.net
I have a Sony Bravia, whihch is not a smart TV, that is, no durect access to
Facebook, Netflix, etc. I do have a Sony Blu-ray player which has that kind of
access and also a Roku 3. Both the Roju 3 and the Blu-ray player are hard wired
to my router. The computer, a desktop is also hard wired to the router. I'm not
big on wireless.
My question is this. Is there a way, given the hardware I have, or is there
another component I can buy, so that I can send media I have stored on my
computer to the TV? Such as picture albums or videos? I realize I could burn the
stuff to DVD's and use the disk player, or upload to Facebook and watch there
but I don't necessarily want the stuff made public. It's only old 30 year old
movies which I had digitized to disks, which I have stored away after copying
them to my computer. I'm just looking for a more direct, simple way. I believe I
could also run a cable from my computer to an input on the TV but I don't want
to run another cable plus, from another room away, I don't think I could use my
keyboard and/or mouse. Kind of off the all question but I've been wondering
about it. Thanks.

I always recommend this:
http://store.digitalriver.com/store?Action=DisplayProductDetailsPage&Locale=en_US&SiteID=wdus&productID=237609800&themeID=30153100

I have 4

[r***@cbs.com]

Post by Metspitzer

Post by r***@optonline.net
I have a Sony Bravia, whihch is not a smart TV, that is, no durect access to
Facebook, Netflix, etc. I do have a Sony Blu-ray player which has that kind of
access and also a Roku 3. Both the Roju 3 and the Blu-ray player are hard wired
to my router. The computer, a desktop is also hard wired to the router. I'm not
big on wireless.
My question is this. Is there a way, given the hardware I have, or is there
another component I can buy, so that I can send media I have stored on my
computer to the TV? Such as picture albums or videos? I realize I could burn the
stuff to DVD's and use the disk player, or upload to Facebook and watch there
but I don't necessarily want the stuff made public. It's only old 30 year old
movies which I had digitized to disks, which I have stored away after copying
them to my computer. I'm just looking for a more direct, simple way. I believe I
could also run a cable from my computer to an input on the TV but I don't want
to run another cable plus, from another room away, I don't think I could use my
keyboard and/or mouse. Kind of off the all question but I've been wondering
about it. Thanks.

http://store.digitalriver.com/store?Action=DisplayProductDetailsPage&Locale=en_US&SiteID=wdus&productID=237609800&themeID=30153100
I have 4

After having had 3 of the WD Live plus units and being very happy with them,
I purchased one of their "live streaming plus" units reference in the link
above. Mine was piece of crap and would lock up after playing 30 seconds
of video and I would have to power if off/on (unplug) to get it going again... just
to have it lock up again. After 3 or 4th time it went back to Newegg. However,
I'll be the first to admit, between Newegg and UPS it may have damaged in shipping.

WD's firmware releases break as much as they fix. Testing must be done by
pre schoolers. Don't take my word for it, visit there forums and see for
yourself. In fact if you get one, never EVER upgrade the firmware unless it
addresses an issue you have or adds functionality you really, really want.

I have a co-worker that has the "live streaming plus" and he plays all his
video via a usb connected drive and he loves his. I streamed my video wirelessly
from my PC and as I said, it could not play more than 30 seconds without locking
up. The same video played fine though using my WD Live plus units.

All I can say is when they work, they play just about anything you throw at
them. As long as you can return a lemon, I'd say it's worth a try.

The nice thing about them is they can play from shared drives on your network.
No DLNA server needed, although they support DLNA too.

YMMV